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Google CEO Larry Page hints that next Motorola phones will focus on durability

Google CEO Larry Page hints that next Motorola phones will focus on durability

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Motorola logo droid 4 stock 1024
Motorola logo droid 4 stock 1024

Motorola was a dark spot on Google's earnings today, but anticipation is growing for the division to release new phones. Google's CEO Larry Page addressed those devices today, at least obliquely. Repeating some of the same themes he's talked about before, Page hinted that Motorola's next devices could address some of the common durability complaints common on smartphones. Page touched on battery life, water damage, and drops — saying none of those things should be issues for smartphones.

After running through those complaints, Page said "Having just seen Motorola's upcoming products myself, I'm real excited about the potential there. In just under a year, they have accomplished a lot, and have impressive velocity and execution." We've also recently heard that Motorola's next phones won't be gigantic and should be running stock Android. Former CEO Eric Schmidt called them as "phones-plus," a vague description that could theoretically refer to durability, but in truth what Schmidt actually meant is anybody's guess.

Google's earnings call began by showing off the company's penchant for presenting itself as a quirky, fun-loving company with video of the executives using a slide, bikes, and Google Glass on their way to the call. It also signaled the return of CEO Larry Page to the call, something he'd been sitting out recently due to issues with his voice — though he still spoke very softly and carefully. The earnings themselves beat Wall Street's expectations on profits, but revenue wasn't as high as hoped.